Pensacola man arrested on suspicion of child abuse after kids left with welts, scarring

Authorities have arrested a Pensacola man on suspicion that he physically abused multiple children in his home, leaving severe marks and scarring.

Christopher McKinney Jr., 27, has been charged with three counts of child abuse. The abuse was reported on Feb. 14.

The reporting person's name and relationship to the children is redacted, but that person told both the Florida Department of Children and Families and the Gulf Coast Kid's House about the alleged abuse.

The three victims' injuries showed welts, abrasions, bruising and heavy scarring that the Escambia County Sheriff's Office investigator wrote seemed to be consistent with having been struck with an electrical cord or metal coat hanger.

The children's mother appeared to be crying and in distress when police spoke with her, according to McKinney's arrest report, and she said she had no idea where the injuries came from. The deputy persisted, asking how she had no knowledge of heavy scarring on the children, at which point the mother allegedly became defensive and said she would never allow anybody to hurt her children.

The investigator said when the children were at GCKH, they appeared to be calm and playful, and their injuries could not be seen because they were largely on their lower backs and buttocks, as well as inner thighs.

A fourth child was with the three victims, but that child did not have any marks of that kind, according to the report. The fourth child was McKinney's only biological son with the other children's mother.